This is a first for the State i live in. Yesterday as part of an Annual Event held here at the Jupiters Casino in Queensland the Government footed the bill for a series of six lectures which lasted for six hours. Among the lecturers was Anthony Hurley and Ruud Vermeij. The cost was nothing. A large crowd turned up, one side of the arena was packed. Everybody recieved a gift bag containing large packet of tea and a beautifully presented program giving information on what was going to be spoken about. They even supplied a pen and a couple of pieces of chocolate and some other goodies.
It might be worth mentioning at this point. Anthony Hurley said .
" I am constantly amazed that lower grade dancers think they can used the choreography of champions when they do not have the understanding of the tools in their tool box to achieve something that has taken years of dedication and strenuous practice ".
Thanks must also go out to Dancesport Queensland as well as the the Queensland Department of Sport and Recreation. I will be eternally gratefull for learning something in the Double Reverse Spin which i was unaware of after doing the darn thing for many years. Much to much to go into, so i wont even try.

DR spin... Ok,, what was it ?

AWESOME quote by Hurley! I'm tattoing that on my... well, someplace not visible when in Ballroom Character, but there.

" I am constantly amazed that lower grade dancers think they can used the choreography of champions when they do not have the understanding of the tools in their tool box to achieve something that has taken years of dedication and strenuous practice "

It just needed to be said AGAIN.

I'm curious...

in people's personal experience..how long does it take to master any particular skill or step.

Okay I know I'm asking something huge with so many posibilities...but I don't know how to make it more specific.

I get so frustrated with myself because it can take so long for me to learn good technique and than apply said technique to just one step. Is anyone willing to share their experience?

It can take ages to get something right.

I've been following the recent discussion about the different rise & fall pattern in a Foxtrot Feather Step, compared with s Three Step, and I well remember just how difficult it was to remember (let alone dance) the correct footwork, rise & fall, and getting in the CBM and sway, as well.

I have a current beginners class who have just started Foxtrot, and they are having all the same problems. "Why does this dance LOOK so easy?" asked one student. "Does Tiger Woods make driving a golf ball perfectly straight for 325 yards LOOK hard?", I replied. He goes on to say that he has been watching a DVD, and can't get over how easy it looked. "Whose?", I ask. "Oh, someone called Mirko Gozzoli ...".

But here we are, on a wet Wednesday, in a beat-up Community Hall, and half the room can't tell left from right. Such are the joys of teaching.

I have reached an age when I don't learn new things as easily as I once did; and I can be amazed when I try something new (and it's often a Sequence Dance that I will otherwise have to sit out), that I can't remember the actual sequence of figures - which is a bit of a problem, really.

The difficulties of beginners, and those of more experience are different problems - but both are very real.

Hi Cyd,
You wrote:
I will be eternally grateful for learning something in the Double Reverse Spin which i was unaware of after doing the darn thing for many years.
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Can't sleep! What was IT!!!

luv2Dance. In Tia Chi before moving to the Left there is a slight move of the shoulders to the right. This also happens in the Double Reverse Turn. It creates a wind up. When it follows a Slip Pivot it is already there. But if we do another Double Reverse the wind up and aceleration on the right side needs to be put in place and was aptly demonstrated several times.
Another very interesting thing was, demonstrated and explained, was the Swing in the Waltz.
Solo we were asked to join our two hands together and swing from low to high. The feeling has to be like... Following ...the crest of a wave. It was also said that Swing creates an out of balance movement. But Sway regains balance.
Also don't do a Fallaway Slip Pivot in the Tango with Foxtrot timing and action which was also demonstrated
From A H there was one hour packed with information.
All of the six hours of lectures was free, paid for by the Queensland Government with Sponsors which included Jupiters Casino where it was held.

Thanks Cyd,
At last. Yawn, head down, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

lluv2 Dance. ZZZZ. I will always answer post haste. But if i can't get through there is nothing i can do about it.